According to transfer maven Fabrizio Romano, Bayern Munich will not pick up the option to buy Manchester City loanee Joao Cancelo. Romano has reported that it would take €70 million to acquire Cancelo, a figure which is far too high for a club like Bayern Munich, which already has Benjamin Pavard, Alphonso Davies, Noussair Mazraoui, and Josip Stanišić manning the outside-back positions.
Even with some relative uncertainty surrounding the respective contract status of Pavard and Davies, along with rumored unhappiness for Mazraoui and a potential loan assignment for Stanišić, spending that number on an outside-back when the team desperately needs a new striker (and maybe a central midfielder as well) would not be prudent:
Understand Manchester City are ready to sell João Cancelo this summer. He will return from Bayern, €70m buy option won’t be triggered. #MCFC
Arsenal appreciate Cancelo, he’s one of the names in the list #AFC
Barça have genuine interest since January but… depends on FFP. pic.twitter.com/xzeHi171Ds
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 29, 2023
Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg confirmed the report as well:
While at Bayern Munich, Cancelo flashed his dazzling offensive skills and footwork, while also showing that he needs to focus a little more on defensive work. Either way, it was an astute loan by former sporting director Hasan “Brazzo” Salihamidžić at a time where Davies was struggling and Mazraoui was out with a COVID-related ailment.
Now, Cancelo will venture back to Manchester City for the time being, as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Arsenal FC seem to be his primary suitors.
